A glass dome over a glowing red orb with a coiled stethoscope beside it.

Original artwork, not a still

Benjamin Franklin

He's a fool that makes his doctor his heir.

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

The speaker calls it foolish to name one's own physician as heir. The implied warning is about conflicting interests: someone who profits from your death has a motive to see you fail, so the person tending your health should not also stand to inherit your estate.

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